San Diegans redoing their landscaping to make it water-wise have probably learned a lot about succulents. The thick, fleshy plants are now ubiquitous in neighborhoods across the region. But what might not be as well known is that succulents, including cactus, are big business in San Diego County. According to San Diego County's most recent agriculture crop report, in 2016 San Diego growers produced nearly $83 million worth of cactus and succulents.

Debra Lee Baldwin, the author of three books about succulents, said the drought drew a lot of attention to succulents and plants that require less water.

"Succulents, by definition, are plants that withstand periods of drought by storing water in their fleshy leaves and stems," she said.